Windshield frame



June 18, 1940. A. T. POTTER WINDSHIELD FRAME Filed Oct. 10, 1938 IN VENTOR 7 02 2 2 9 m; TTOR/VEKi of water around the edge of the windshield and applied after the shield is in place by pressing 25 Patented June 18, 1940 I v UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

wmnsnmm FRAME Albert T. Potter, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Aincworth Manufacturing Company,-Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application October 10, 1938, Serial No. 234,085 5 Claims. 296-84) The invention relates to motor vehicles and it leg of the channel, the strip has a lip portion l8 ,has particular relation to Windshields for such which, in conjunction with the forward channel vehicles. leg, provides a channel for receiving the flange One object of the invention is to provide an l2. This latter channel resiliently engages the ornamental molding for windshield frames conflange l2 so as to normally prevent leakage of 5 structed of rubber which is adapted to substanwater at this point, while the remainder of the tially conceal the forwardly exposed side of the strip is held in place by a fastening strip 20 serubber frame and at the same time enhance the cured to the panel H by means of screws 2|. appearance of the vehicle body. The forwardly exposed side of the rubber strip,

0 Another object of the invention is to provide. including the lip portion I8, is covered by a strip in connection with moldings such as mentioned, of metal molding 23, preferably constructed of an improved means for attaching the molding to thin stainless steel, and this strip of molding the rubber frame, which will insure retention of has is edgesfolded back as indicated at 24 and the molding in proper position at all times. 25, so as to thereby avoid sharp and unsightly Another object of the invention is to provide edges. The folded back edge 24 terminates in a 15 molding such as mentioned, which permits apsharp and outwardly projecting flange 21, which plication of the molding after the windshield has extends into a narrow recess or slot in the outer been placed in the opening provided therefor in leg of the channel It and this engagement of the vehicle body. c flange and slot serves to retain the molding in Another obiect of the invention'is to provide position. It will be understood, of course, that 20 molding of his character which assists in prethis flange and slot extend longitudinally of the serving the shape of the rubber frame, at least ,molding and that the latter, aswell as the flange at the forward side of the sheld, and at thesame and slot, extend around the periphery of the time provides further assurance against leakage shield. It is apparent that the molding may be into the interior of the vehicle. the flange 21 into the slot and it will be under- Other objects of the invention will become apstood that the molding is made in suitable secparent from the following specification, from the tions so as to permit outward movement of each draw n o Which it relates, and from the claims section'to cause, movement of the flange 21 into hereinafter s t f h. the slot. Preferably the molding is shaped to so For a better understanding of the invention, cause a resilient pressure against the rubber at refere ce y be had to the drawing e the edges of the molding and this is helpful in igu e 1 is a h y View Of a meter Y preventing leakage. In other words, the folded hlcle havin a i i d assembly embodyms edge 25 assists in holding the rubber lip against one form of th p es n Invention; the flange I2, while the folded edge 24 assists 5 2 is a cross-sectional view on a larger scale in pressing the rubber against the glass at the taken subs a a y along the line o i points where water would have to enter in order, Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating t cause leakage. I

another form of the inven i n; and In the construction shown by Fig. 3, a strip I 40 Fi s. 4 and 5 are also views similar to Fig. 2, of molding an is employed which at its edge next 0 illustrating othe forms of the inVentiOnto the glass is provided with a channel formation Referring to Figs- 1 and 2, he v hicle o y is 3|. having a restricted entry opening. The rubillustrated as having a'cowl portion [.0 and a ber strip is separated along a line corresponding panel II, which are joined at their edges to proto the shape of the channel 3|, thereby providing vide a flange l2 that projects in a generally veraprojection 32 adapted to fit within the channel. tical direction. The panel ll defines a wind- This projection is pressed into the channel and shield opening and the flange l2 provides a once in place is held rather strongly therein shoulder at the forward side of the opening that against removal. At its outer'edge, indicated at serves as alocating means for the windshield 33, the molding has a folded back portion which frame to be inserted therein. A windshield is engages the edge of the lip l8 and assists in 50 indicated at It and the edge of the shield is holding such edge of the lip against the flange mounted ina rubber strip l5 that has a channel l2. It'is apparent that the molding may be "5 fitting a substantial edge portion of the glass. applied by separating the projecting portion 32 The base portion of the strip engages the panel of the rubber from the lip portion l8, then plac- II, as indicated at It, and forwardly of the front ing the molding in position or .approximatelyin u Ill its proper position, and then pressing the projection into the channel 3|. It may be added that usually rubber is pressed into a channel having a, restricted opening by means of a suitable hammering device adapted to strike rather forceful blows which force the rubber through the restricted entry opening of such channel. As in the construction shown by Fig. 2, the molding is made in suitable sections, although in this case anannular molding could be employed since outward movement is not required.

In the construction shown by Fig. 4, astrip of molding 36 is employed which cooperates with the lip 18 in a manner similar to that already explained, but in this case the molding has a flange at its projects outwardly between front surface of the glass made in suitable sections which permits its assembly with the rubber substantially in the manner described with respect to Fig. 2.

In the construction shown by Fig. 5, molding 38 is employed, which is generally similar to that shown by Fig. 4,, excepting that the inner edge of the molding has a'turned bead 40 that rests in a recess in the rubber adjacent the front surface of the glass. This molding is applied in a manner similar to that shown by Figs. 2 and 4.

In all of the constructions illustrated, the molding is held positively in place against looseness and cannot be removed except by forceful manipulation. Moreover the edges of the molding hold the rubber against the metal and glass and in conjunction with the resiliency of the rubber,- provide further assurances against leakage of water through the windshield. Aside from the fact that the molding provides a pleasing ornamental appearance around the edge of the windshield at its front side, such molding prevents displacement of the rubber such as oftentimes occurs either due to natural deformation of the rubber or dueto persons toying with the rubber lip, gradually causing it to remain separated from the flange 12. It will be appreciated that ordinarily, exposed rubber lips provide a temptation, at least to certain persons, to manually maneuver the lip merely to determine how it is associated with the windshield and vehicle body. Repeated manual movements of the lip portion IB frequently will cause it to remain separated at points at least from the flange l2 and this not only promotes leakiness but also impairs the appearance. Manifestly, the molding preserves the appearance at the front side of the windshield and furthermore assists in preventing leaks.

While the construction has been illustrated and described in connection with Windshields at the forward side of the vehicle, it should be apparent that thearrangernent may be used in connection with other window openings, such as the rear window of the vehicle, in which event the molding would be located at the rear side of the glass. Accordingly,- where the terms in the claims refer to the windshield and to the molding being at the forward side, it is to be understood that such claims would be equally applicable in other locations of a. glass, such as in connection with the rear glass of the vehicle.

Although more than one form of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

windshield opening 1. In combination,- a vehicle body having a windshield opening and an inwardly directed flange at the forward edge of the opening, a windshield, a rubber strip extending around the edge of the windshield and having a channel for receiving the edge of the latterwith the forward side of the strip abutting the rear side of said flange, a lip portion projecting forwardly from the forward leg of the channel to the front side of the flange, a thin metal molding strip covering the forwardly exposed surface of the lip portion, and means attaching the molding to such lip portion and including a flange on the molding and a slot in the lip portion into which such flange projects, said molding, rubber, and flange being so constructed and arranged that the molding may be applied after the windshield is inplace.

2. In combination, a vehicle body having a and an inwardly directed flange at the forward edge of the opening, a windshield, a rubber strip extending around the edge of the windshield and having a channel for receiving the edge of the latter with the forward side of the strip abutting the rear side of said flange, a lip portion projecting forwardly from the forward leg of the channel to the front side of the flange, a thin metal molding covering the forwardly exposed surface of the lip portion and extending substantially to the front surface of the shield, and a flange on the molding adjacent the glass and which projects into a recess in the rubber strip for holding the molding in place, said molding, rubber, and flange being so constructed and arranged that the molding may be applied after the windshield is in place.

3. In combination, a vehicle body having a windshield opening and an inwardly directed flange at the forward edge of the opening, a windshield, a rubber strip extending around the edge of the windshield and having a channel for receiving the edge of the latter with the forward side of the strip abutting the rear side of said flange, a lip portion projecting forwardly from the forward leg of the channel to the front side of the flange, a thin metal molding covering the forwardly exposed surface of the lip portion and extending substantially to the front surface of the shield, and a projection along the edge of the molding which extends outwardly between the front surface of the shield and the rubber at the forward side of the shield, said molding, rubber, and flange being so constructed and arranged that the molding may be applied after the windshield is in place.

4. In combination, a vehicle body having a windshield opening, a windshield in said opening, a rubber strip extending around the edge of the shield and having a channel for receiving the latter, and a thin metal molding strip at the forward side of the shield and having a projection along its edge which extends into a recess in the rubber for holding the molding in place, said recess and projection extending substantially parallel to the windshield so that the molding may be applied by movement parallel to the windshield.

5. In combination, a vehicle body having an opening and an inwardly directed flange at one edge of the opening, a glass for the opening, a rubber strip extending around the edge of the glass and having an inwardly open channel for receiving the edge of the glass with one leg of the channel abutting one side of the flange, a lip portion projecting from said one leg and to the opposite side of the flange so that the channel and lip are located at opposite sides of the flange, a thin molding strip on the lip in covering relation to its exposed surface with the outer edge portion of the molding holding the outer edge portion of the lip against the body flange so as to pre- V ALBERT T. POTTER. 

